Jeff Bobo

CHURCH HILL — The Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office is looking for two men who attempted to rob a woman at a Dollar General Store near Church Hill last week before the victim’s daughter reportedly helped fight off the attacker.

Sandra Lane of Church Hill told the HCSO the incident happened around 2 p.m. Thursday as she was walking in to the Dollar General Store at 105 Francisco Lane just off of Carters Valley Road.

Lane said a man with a dark complexion who appeared to be in his late 30s or early 40s was waking toward her smiling when he hit her in the stomach, knocking her down.

The man then tried to grab Lane’s purse, but her daughter, Jessica Cradic, saw the incident and was able to fight off the suspect.

According to a report filed by HCSO Sgt. Michael Allen, nothing was stolen.

The suspect then ran over to a “dull black” Ford Ranger and got into the passenger seat.

Witnesses said the Ranger was driven by a man who appeared to be in his late 30s or early 40s with salt and pepper hair.Lane and Cradic told Allen they chased the Ranger in their vehicle, and took down a possible license plate number before it got away.

The Tennessee registration number they reported to Allen was 778-ZGJ.

HCSO Chief Deputy Tony Allen said there is no store surveillance video of the robbery or the suspects, and the incident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information about these suspects is asked to contact the HCSO at 272-4848.